A Clarion Call for Courageous Leadership in a Time of Fear

We are in uncharted territory.

Today, I write with a mixture of resolve and apprehension. I am fully aware that even articulating this viewpoint could invite scrutiny, or worse. And yet, I feel compelled to speak up. Because silence in the face of fear is complicity—and we’ve had far too much of both.

Across our country, the climate for leadership has become increasingly hostile. Public servants, nonprofit leaders, educators, and even business executives are hesitating to speak truth to power, not because they lack conviction, but because they fear retribution. This, to me, is the definition of failed leadership—when those in positions of power use fear, not inspiration, to assert control.

As someone who has spent decades in executive leadership and governance roles, I have always believed that leadership is about lifting others up. It’s about courage, compassion, and clarity of purpose. But today, I find myself asking: where have these values gone?

Recently, I was reminded of just how far we’ve strayed. I serve on the board of a nonprofit in Southern California that provides educational and social services to homeless children. These are children—many just six, seven, or eight years old—whose lives are already marked by uncertainty and trauma. And yet, our organization was recently informed that children without legal documentation could now be classified as "domestic terrorists." Furthermore, board members and staff who continue to provide support risk being labeled as individuals "aiding and abetting" terrorism.

This is not a dystopian novel. This is America in 2025.

The implications are staggering—not just for us, but for the hundreds of nonprofit organizations across the country working tirelessly to support vulnerable communities. According to the National Center for Homeless Education, over 1.1 million students experienced homelessness during the 2020–21 school year. A significant portion of them are undocumented. Are we really prepared to brand these children—many of whom fled violence, poverty, and instability—as terrorists?

This kind of rhetoric is not just dangerous—it is dehumanizing. It chips away at our shared humanity, our values, and our national character.

And here’s the point I want to emphasize: leadership is not only about the people in elected office. It’s about all of us.

We often look to Washington—or to city hall—for leadership. But true leadership starts closer to home. It’s in our schools, in our companies, on our nonprofit boards, and around our kitchen tables. It’s demonstrated when a manager advocates for an employee, when a teacher shields a vulnerable student, or when a business owner refuses to stay quiet in the face of injustice.

We’ve seen this pattern of fear-based governance before. A 2023 report by the Brookings Institution observed a marked increase in political intimidation tactics at both the federal and state levels, including threats against school boards, health officials, and nonprofit leaders. Similarly, a Gallup poll from late 2024 found that 61% of Americans believe that "leaders today are more interested in punishing opponents than serving the public." That is a sobering reflection of our moment.

Leadership is not about appeasement. Nor is it about punishment. It is about standing in the breach and doing the right thing—even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard.

Our history offers better examples. Think of President Gerald Ford, who chose healing over vengeance after Watergate. Or the late Senator John McCain, who consistently placed principle above party. Think also of the countless unnamed leaders in our communities—nonprofit directors, social workers, nurses, small business owners—who quietly and courageously do the right thing every single day.

We need that kind of leadership now more than ever. Leadership that prioritizes justice over fear. Inclusion over division. Truth over intimidation.

To those who are frightened to speak up, I say: I see you. I am with you. And I believe there is strength in numbers. We cannot allow ourselves to be isolated or intimidated. We must unite, not as Democrats or Republicans, but as Americans committed to justice and moral leadership.

This is our moment—not just for elected officials, but for each of us. Whether you're leading a team of 500 or a family of four, you have influence. You have a voice. And we need it.

There is an old proverb that says, "A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in." It’s time we started planting again.